274 agriculture; of maine. 



because it leveled the land down where the potatoes were, and 

 when I covered the potatoes the grass that came up was cov- 

 ered deeper than if I had had a ridge there. The Robbins 

 planter makes something of a ridge wherever it is used. We 

 generally put our potatoes about two inches below the level of 

 the ground. 



Mr. Day. I think possibly that is a problem for us to decide 

 individually. For my part, I would not want the weeder. While 

 there is a ridge after the potatoes are planted, I would plan on 

 having a small ridge at first and then keep adding a little more 

 earth instead of taking any oi¥. This simply brings out one 

 point, — that we cannot lay down any hard and fast rules in 

 growing po'tatoes. 



Ques. How high a hill would you have when you got 

 through cultivating? 



Ans. The last time I hilled up I should want a good-sized 

 hill ; I would rather have it too large than too small. 



Ques. After you have hilled them up several times with 

 the horse hoe isn't there danger of getting so much dirt on top 

 of them that When you come to run the potato digger there 

 is too much dirt on the potatoes and they fall down into the 

 groove and it bothers in picking them up and keeping them 

 clear ? 



Ans. You might possibly find trouble that way; but the 

 trouble there would be due as much to the spade not being 

 clean. If the spade is not absolutely clean it will push them 

 out. 



Ques. Is it possible to use the horse hoe all the time, not 

 using anything else ? The last time we go through the potatoes 

 is it best to leave it as the horse hoe would leave it? 



Ans. Yes, I think so. 



Mr. Lowell. When you go through with the horse hoe 

 doesn't it leave a hard surface? 



Ans. It depends on how the horse hoe is set. It certainly is 

 necessary not to allow a place to be baked aown hard and 

 smooth and He without any dirt on it; but you can prevent this 

 by filling the horse hoe so full that it will overflow or by using 

 a tooth of some kind to stir up the ground after the horse hoe 

 has passed over it. 



Ques. What do you use for a harrow? 



Ans. I use a disk first and then level ofif with a spring tooth. 



